New Pinot Hounds in the Race

Over the past year or two, not a week went by that I didn’t hear of a new producer of Pinot Noir. Part of this
has been fueled by the increasing number of custom crush facilities that allow newcomers to make small lots of
premium Pinot Noir under the guidance of experienced winemakers (so-called virtual wineries). The most
notable example of this is Crushpad in San Francisco. Industrial parks have also been a popular spot for
starting up a small winery, allowing producers to concentrate on obtaining quality grapes and investing in top
winemaking equipment without the added costs of glamorous winery facilities and tasting rooms. Because of
our crummy economy, it is not clear how many of these new hounds will still be in the race in another year or
two. List below are the most promising newcomers with only a vintage or two under their collar.